SIR JOHN'S HEIRESS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9674, 23 December 1909, Page 2

SIR JOHN'S HEIRESS.

CHAPTER XV.—Continued. "My carriage? Why, I walked from Llanberis —the morning was so glorious! A fly passed me half a mile away; its occupant was, I think, an East Indian. Surely he is not visiting Woodcroft? Perhaps he is one of your father's foreign friends." Hilda shuddered in spite of herself. "My father's friends shall not come herel'' she said almost fiercely. "And he and Mrs Carrington must look for another home; lam perfectly agreeable to make them an ample rllowance, so long as my .father leads a respectable life and keeps out of crifl&e. Mr Molson has the matter in hand now." She glanced over her shoulder apprehensively. "Ah, Victor, lam terrified at times —1 am afraid of my father and his past!" "And that is one reason why I should take care of my little woman' —twirlii g his mustache, while his face assumed a serious expression. "I shall always he near you, however, , until I can honestly claim you for my j wife"—they were pacing slowly J round the lake "and, if you want i my advice or my assistance, at any i time, Hilda, I am always ready. Oh, it will not be long—l am convinced ' of that, because fortune is treading close upon my heels! It is remarkable that any one should become interested in the poor old mine at this moment, and I was somewhat sceptical when I went to my father's office in answer to the letter from Reuben Growcott. I am sure that the finger of Providence is in it all." Hilda pressed his hand fondly. "Go on, Vict r—l amjso interested!" "Of course I knew the name of Reuben (irowcott at once —who does not? But I expected that he wished I to experiment while I paid the piper, ' and that woulJ have been simply im--1 possible. To my utter amazement, however, be proposed to buy a half share in the mine, on the understanding that the money so invested should be utilised in procuring new machinery a<,d reopening the work ings. He named the sum at fwur or five thousand pounds. It was not his own speculation exactly, but he was actinc for a client whose confidence in him was absolute. He had inspected tbe mine and its surroundings yeais before, and made the proposal upon hearing of my father's financial difficulties " ! "And you accepted at once, Victor?"

''Accepted?" I.e cried joyously. '"I , think that I could have embraced Mr Keuben Urowcott! He treated it jas a mere matter of bbsii.ess; and ' he congratulated me upon my future prospects. He was so certain of great results!" Victor hesitated. "Do you know, darling, I think that i I might now honorably venture upon ! marriage, at least, within three months' time. Let us make anew contract, and fix the wedding for the first flay of the hew year! Mean- ' while, we ahnll have everything in working order, and I shall be half through with my novel." 1 He drew her flushed face nearer to his own, ard kissed it fondly lam hppier now than .1 have been for week 9," she said simply. "And, in our happiness, let us be charitable to others,'" Victor whispered into her ear. "Do you know, sweetheart, that I am sorry for your father? And you cannot forget that he is your own flesh and blood. He is, in my tstimation, a good-na-tured, reckless fool—weak-minded and vain—but non= of us are faultless. He may have been the tool of others. He and I get on capitally together." "And yet he hates vou!" "Does he? That may be your jealous fancj, darling; you think tco much of me and magnify my failings into perfections!" She shook her hend resolutely, "he ruined my uncle's life—he be •trayed him! tie caused tbe death of Ladjr Mary, whose spirit haunts the lake and the tower. He deserted his own child, and has since lived by robbing others. I can never forget his treatment of me when he believed himself to be the master of Woodcroft. And the people who come here to see him are dreadful-looking men. lam .terrified lest something may happen—l am full of vague fears! Do not trust him, Victor; do not listen to his plausible tongue He and his wile must leave Dere; I cannot bear to breathe the same air as they do. Ah, if you were injured, I should kill him!" Linton was amazed and perplexed. The girl's hands were clinched, her eyes flashed, her face was now deathly pale. "Hilda, my dfar one, you must not talk so! Foolish fears! What harm can your father or any one else do me? Why on earth should they harm me?" He laughed encouragingly. "Because you love me! Oh, it is reason enough for them! If you were out of the way, they would try to i make me marry one of my father's friends—such horrors, they look like convicts!" She broke off hystertically, and

BY F. L. DACRE, Author of "A Loveless Marriage," "A Change of Heart" •'Trenholme's Trust," "A Case for the Court," Etc, etc.

I Victor clasped her tightly to his heart. "Ygu are growing morbid, little woman! It is all the fault of this cteerless spct and Us associations! Lady Mary ldwal may have killed herself here, but the idea of her ghost is all nonsense!" "I have seen it," answered Hilda. "All imagination, "iou see," he went on, "that the hills shut out the light on one side, and <_n tne other the trees have become dense. It id allowing to neglect; the paths are deep in weeds and grass. If all this were cleared away, and the trees were thinned out, tlere would be no more ghosts, I'll be bound!" They were standing under the ruined tower, and Hilda pointed to the crumbling archway. ' "I should like to go in, but I have heen afraid to do so alone." "By all means let us beard the ghost in its den!" laughed Victor. tie beat down the tall grass with his cane, and two or three rats scuttled away. He seized a piece of fallen masonry to hurl after them, and a lizard darted from under it. "Bah—a horrid place! Take my hand; I have not acted wisely in bringing you here." They entered and stood within the ruined walls of what had once been the chapel. A spiral stairway led to the upper chamber of the tDwer; but, as it was in complete darkness, Victor considered it wise to defer the exploration. M 8» HMU.^i "It may be historically interesting," he said, "but it is very filthy, gruesome and dangerous, and would be best demolished. The place is an ugly bkt upon a beautiful scene." He noticed a large iron ring in the ! flocr and that there was either a vault or a. well right under their feet. "Come Hilda! How foul the air is here!" • They both gladly sought the freshness and sweetness ot the atmosphere outside, and neither of them spoke again until they had reached the lawns in view of the Castle windows. "You have not yet cold me about your sister Marian," Hilda said at last. "1 hope that she is happy?" "How could a bride of less than a month be otherwise? She is one of the best of women; and her husband is the noblest fellow on earth!" His brow clouded. "Of course my mother is naturally troubled; we are trying, however, to communicate with father. Now I intend lunching with you, if you will have me. Mr Growicott is coming to Llanberis tr-night with his engire°r; and in a week or two things will be in working ord> r." Tne lovers entered the Castle by a postern-d:or, and walked together to a small room which had been Sir John's study., Ciose upon their heels came Bartlet, and a keen observer would have seen that it cost him a strong effort to suppress his excittmu<.t. He glanced sharply at Victor Linton, then addressed his young mistress.

"Captain Camngton vvuul.i like to s r e you, Misd Carringtoo, in the soutli reception-room." He paused, before addinc impressively, "He wishes to introduce hishighn.ss, the Rajah of—Nowhere?" Linton looked up quickly, b.;t Bartlet was go ip. "Your bu'ler is a privileged person, [ should imagine, Hilda—and an oddity at that!" he remarked. "Are you going at once? Then I will go with you!" CHAPTER XVI. THE RAJAH MAKES A BLUNDER. From the lips of Bartlet, Captain Carrington's message to his daughter had sounded almost like a command, and, in ordinary circumstances, the butler's demeanour would have merited a severe reprimand. Victor Linton was puzzled, and he glanced in an inquiring manner at Hilda. "We will meet the Rajah of Nowhere," she said but with a curl of the lip. "And my father shall understand that in future he must not invite his disieputable friends to Woodcroft Castle. Mr Molson has been instructed as to wftat 1 am prepared to do for Captain and Mrs Carrington; and the lawyer never questions my will now—indeed, he has become my firm friend and ally." She laughed lightly. "We were at daggers drawn for the first few days of our acquaintance." "And what of the butl.r?" Victor pursued. "Familiarity in servants cannot be tolerated!" He paused. "I have had an uncomfortable feeling regarding that man from the first moment 1 saw him.'' "In what way?" "I seem to have known him somewhere else and under different circumstances. You see, lawyers knock about a great deal'.' "It is hardly possible, Victor. Bartlet has not always .been engaged in the capacity of a butler, but he has been at Woodcruft for years, and was a trusted servant of my uncle's —a sort of valet and secretary combined. I know that he is carefully watching over my interests." TO BE CONTINUED.